Method for the removal of varnish, lacquer, enamel, paint, and similar coatings fromany objects or materials



' and the varnish can be removed almost UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GERALD H. MAINS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

I'ETHOD FOR THE REMOVAL OF VABNISE, LACQUER, ENAMEL, PAINT, AND SIMILAR v COATINGS FROM ANY OBJECTS OR MATERIALS. 1

Patented June 14, 1921.

1,381,485, Specification of Letters Patent.

No Drawing. Application filed December 6, 1920. Serial No. 428,666.

(FILED UNDER In ACT 01' men 8, 1883, 22 STAT. L, 625.)

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, GERALD H. MAINS, a citizen of the United States of America, and an employee of the Department of Agriculture, residin in the city of Detroit, county of Wayne, tate of Michigan, (whose postofiice address is Department of Agriculture, Washin on, D. C.,) have invented a new and use 111 Method for the Removal of Varnish, Lac uer, Enamel, Paint and Similar Coatings rom any Objects or Materials.

' This application is made under the act of March 3, 1883, chapter 143 (22 Stat, 625), and the invention herein described and claimed is hereby dedicated to the free use of the Government and the public without pa cut to me of any royalty thereon.

have found that furfural, a chea and slowly volatile solvent, alone or mixe with other solvents, when applied to surfaces covered with varnish, lacquer, paint, or enamel, or other coating, exerts a solvent action which permits the convenient, rapid and efli cacious removal of such coating material.-

I shall illustrate my invention by describing the solvents I have used and the manner in which I have employed them without limiting m self to the s ial concentrations or particu ar nature 0 the ingredients other than furfural.

One preparation that I use consists of furfura 2-furaldehyde (also known as fural, furol, furfurol, or pyromucic aldehyde), a liquid slightly heavier than water, and boiling at 155 C. to 168 C. under ordinary atmospheric pressure, the boiling depending upon t e urity of the fu ral. This liquid furfura can be readily and cheaply prepared from com cobs, wood waste, or other pentosan containing material by the well known process of di ing with acid, distilling off a mixture of rfural and water, and concentrating the furfural in the distillate. I applp the furfural to the surface from which wish to remove the varnish. A; rapid solvent action takes place,

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mediately by the simple wiping with a cloth. Lacquer an enamel are removed in the same we 0 remove paint from surfaces the furfural is applied in a fairly thick layer and allowed to remain for a few minutes whereupon the paint becomes softened and may be readily removed by a knife, scraper, or stiff brush.

To remove varnish, lac uer, enamel, or paint, from cloth or paper dip a piece of cloth in the furfural and rub the varnished, lacquered, enameled, or painted portion with it. All furfural left on the cloth or paper being clxeaned disappears by evaporation.

I use this preparation for the cleaning of varnish and paint brushes by allowing them to stand a few minutes in. a vessel containing furfural.

Other preparations that I have used to remove varnish and paint are made by mixing furfural with other solvents, water, alcohol, benzene, acetone, benzin, gasolene. These P as rfural alone and rapidly and effectively remove the varnish, lacquer, enamel or paint. I do not limit myself to preparations containing furfural and the above named solvents, as many other inorganic and organic solvents when mixed with substantial proportions of furfural will remove varnish, lacquer, enamel, and paint. However, I prefer to use furfural alone, the material in the crude state serving very well for this purpose.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- A method of removing varnish from varnished surfaces, consisting in applying to the varnish a coating of furfural and subsequently removing the loosened varnish.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GERALD H. MAINS Witnesses:

Max Pnnmrs Mansnam, J. (ioss.

reparations are applied in the same manner 

